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SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY’S DEBI GALLAGHER Downsize Your Home Without Upsizing Your Hassles B erkshire Hathaway’s Debi Gallagher has heard hundreds of reasons from her clients on why they’re downsizing. That’s because everyone’s story is different, and, through the years, Gallagher has honed her skills at representing downsizing seniors to reflect the individuality that each of them brings to the table. “My licensed assistant, Carolyn Langenohl, and I hear it every day: ‘Should we go to a 55-plus community or independent living with a medical component attached to it?’” Gallagher said. “When you’re looking at life changes of that magnitude, people and even entire families don’t know where to begin. I have more than 20 years of experience helping people make those decisions. Now that Carolyn and I are part of that same age group, we’re even more in tune with what options are out there.” Gallagher added that there are so many variables involved with a downsizing decision that people need outside help to take it all in. “Are you healthy or are you borderline? Maybe you’re fine but your spouse has issues. Maybe you’re later on in years and independent, but you have this little voice in the back of your head saying, ‘What if I fall, or worse?’ People literally get overwhelmed with these factors,” she said. “But that’s what we’re here for. We can find people homes in a 55-plus community or reduce a house down to a ranch in a neighborhood where you can still do the upkeep and have neighbors around you so that you’re not alone.” Gallagher has also compiled a network of contractors and specialists over the years who can help clients with anything from packing to long-term storage. She’s familiar with all of the regional independent and assisted living communities, and she and Langenohl have even interviewed facilities with their clients to ensure a perfect fit. “We constantly visit these facilities to stay up on what they have to offer residents,” Gallagher noted. “Some offer full kitchens, for example; others just have kitchenettes. Either one could be perfect for the right client, but you have to know who has what to make the puzzle pieces fit.” She and Langenohl also sponsor community-based seminars throughout the year to help seniors prepare for issues facing them as they get older, bringing in outside experts so that people can make an informed decision from the information presented. “We just like helping people more than anything else, and we feel that if people hear these things from independent sources, it sinks in better than if it were Carolyn or myself saying it,” she said. “But, at the end of the day, it’s all about helping our clients. From educating them to helping them pack boxes, we’ve done it all for our clients and we’ve enjoyed every second of it.” For more information on Debi Gallagher, including all of her current listings, go to her website at www.DebiGallagher. com. You can also call her directly at 412.417.6295, or email her at [email protected]. Office: 724-941-3000 n www.DebiGallagher.com 4215 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317 Professional Service, Personally Delivered! The Gallagher Team CANON-MAC ❘ WINTER 2019 25